I am a Prairie Princess. I love putting the coffee on and starting the fire first thing in the morning to take the chill off of this old farm house. Sweeping the mess of bark and grass of to the side of the hearth with a small hand broom brings me joy in my heart.
My next task is always standing in front of an east facing window watching the light change as the glow ball sun reaches the horizon. It feeds my soul through my eyes. Even on a busy day when there is much to be done I can’t help but stop and wonder at the beautiful light.
It is winter now and for me a time to be quiet and reflect. Why did I take being a princess as a negative when I learned that was a name I had been given behind my back this past year? Why didn’t I just say thank you? I mean think about it. What is a princess? Beautiful, kind, graceful, poised, loved by her royal subjects. In hindsight that doesn’t seem so bad to me.
What kind of princess (or prince) are you?
Forgive Me
Angels are wonderful yet they are so, well, aloof. It’s what I sense in the mud and the roots of the trees, or the well, or the barn, or the rock with its citron map of lichen that halts my feet and makes my eyes flare, feeling the presence of some spirit, some small god, who abides there.
If I were a perfect person, I would be bowing continuously.
I’m not though I pause wherever I feel this holiness, which is why I’m often so late coming back from wherever I went.
Forgive me.
Mary Oliver
This poem is exactly how I feel about this beautiful place that I live. The first time I read this poem it brought me to tears. I thought, there is someone out there who feels exactly the same way I do. Thinking about it now I imagine there are many someones out there who feel this way.
In the country the sky is big, the view is long and the magic is never ending. I am so thankful. I too feel like I should be bowing continuously.
Lately I have found a new fascination with unusual words. Primarily words that I feel like someone made up just for me. My use of vocabulary has always been pretty stripped down and basic and I’ve never really felt the need to expand. So why now? Maybe because I’ve started this we site and that requires me to write for more than just myself? Maybe the universe is sending me tiny messages…a word at a time? Messages telling me; this is who you are.
If that is the case today’s message is the word Gokotta (zyohh-koh-tah). This is a Swedish word with a meaning that fits me to a tee. Gokotta is the act of rising early just to go outside and hear the birds sing. It is exactly what I am doing this morning as I write this post. It is what I’m called to do every morning rain or shine. Many times I’m out on the deck in my PJ’s, a jacket and a blanket with a hot cup of coffee enjoying the magic a yet another day coming alive.
Often my city friends will say to me “You must really enjoy the peace and quiet of living in the country.” Peace yes. Quiet not very often. The closest to quiet we get would probably be in the dead of winter, no wind and a steady temperature or perhaps right before a storm when it is completely still and everyone/thing is listening for what is to come. The crickets, the frogs, even the grass silently waits.
This morning the wind is rustling through the young leaves of early summer. The baby sparrows are following their mothers around wings quaking crying to be fed. The tiny wrens are full of self-expression. Their song cuts through all the other sounds. I imagine they are saying, “I am tiny but I have a voice and it matters!” It’s early enough that the drake mallards are still chasing the hens and chattering away as they do so. The hummingbird’s come in like giant bumble bees humming happily as they fill up their bellies. This morning the cat bird sounds like a squeaky swing off in the distance. The warblers are the quiet ones. The only noise they seem to make is the splashing of their wings as they bath in the bit of water that puddles on the edge of the garden.
For me it’s all magical. It fills my heart and calms my soul. What better way to start each day.
So yes, I am a Gokotta Master. I highly recommend you give it a try.
Blog dislaimer; Please note that I practice “Creative Grammar” at all times. If you are a master in this area and enjoy finding mistakes you will love my blog! If you are someone who has something to say but fear you will make a mistake in how you say it. Have no fear. Creative Grammar is here!